Merrily We Roll Along
By Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
Director: Sara Grenfell
Musical Director: Cameron Thomas
Choreography: David Wynen
"How did you get to be here, Mr Shepard?" Franklin Shepard has made it to the top: a wealthy LA movie producer, he rubs shoulders with Hollywood’s A-list. But he desperately wishes things had turned out differently. Where did his life veer off course?
As it wheels back through the landscape of Franklin’s past, his choices and their consequences, Merrily We Roll Along explores the forces that shape our lives: success and what it costs, friendship and what it can bear, dreams and what they become.
Presented Jun 29th - Jul 15th, 2017 at Lawler Theatre
Based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.
This production was made possible by the support of Lyngala and Robert Salzer Foundations as well as our wonderfully generous donors.
Reviews
[T]oo many standout moments to recount here [...] the collection of strong performances and Sondheim's magnificent score make this new production of Merrily a worthwhile visit.
Bradley Storer - Theatre Press
Gardner as the thoroughly decent, quietly exasperated Charley [...] brings total authenticity and precision to the role, nailing the fiendish 'Franklin Shepard Inc.' and suggesting the declining years with subtly and nuance.
Tim Byrne - Australian Book Review
Sophie Weiss brings vocal warmth and control to the role of Beth, Frank's first wife, and her rendition of Not A Day Goes By is moving, while the number, Bobbie and Jackie and Jack, her trio with Gardner and Brooks, is a clownish highlight. The big pay-off is the final song, Our Time ...
Melloy's vocal skill does justice to Sondheim's music and she successfully expresses a range of emotion as the insecure and lovelorn Mary.
Kate Herbert - Herald Sun
The ensemble are consistently wonderful and all support the possibly perfect casting of the trio of friends. ☆☆☆☆
Anne-Marie Peard - The Music
Lyall Brooks imbues Frank with the confident swagger of a successful man who is accustomed to being at the centre of everyone's orbit...
Simon Parris - Man In Chair
Anyone who has ever lamented the frivolity of musical theatre should rush to experience the sophisticated wit and insightful intelligence of Merrily We Roll Along.